Preview And Picks For NCAA Football Week 8

Big game betting continues into Week 8 and one of the biggest weeks of the college football season thus far. Five Top 25 matchups include three in the SEC, a Holy War in the Big 12 plus No. 20 USC at No. 8 Notre Dame after the Trojans delivered our top pick winner in Week 7 Top 25 action with a 31-13 mauling of Michigan. 

The USC Trojans (5-1) are now in the Big Ten title chase and College Football Playoff discussion with No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Indiana and No. 8 Oregon after the Hoosiers upset the Ducks in Eugene, OR last Saturday. A win by USC at Notre Dame (4-2) would boost the Trojans CFP chances and end the Irish's hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff. 

More big games and major upsets in Week 7 sent big brands and preseason College Football Playoff favorites to the sidelines. Northwestern (+21') pulled off another huge upset win over Penn State 22-21 to send Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin packing. The longtime Nittany Lions coach was fired after becoming the first team ever to lose back-to-back college football games as a 20+ point favorite. 

Along with USC at Notre Dame, the other most watched and wagered games at leading online sportsbooks on Saturday, Oct. 18 include:

- No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt
- No. 5 Ole Miss at No. 9 Georgia
- No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama
- No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU

Top 25 Games and Week 8 Odds

Betting lines and college football odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Current point spread on favorites, plus game totals. All times ET. Top 25 matchups in bold. 

Saturday, Oct. 18 

(Two Top 25 teams playing Friday, No. 3 Miami and No. 25 Nebraska) 

No. 1 Ohio State (-26) at Wisconsin, 40.5 | 3:30 pm | CBS
No. 2 Miami (-13.5) vs. Louisville, 52 | 7 pm | ESPN  
No. 3 Indiana (-27) vs Michigan State, 52.5 | 3:30 pm | Peacock  
No. 4 Texas A&M (-7.5) at Arkansas, 61.5 | 3:30 pm | ESPN
No. 5 Ole Miss at No. 9 Georgia (-7.5), 54.5 | 3:30 pm | ABC 
No. 6 Alabama (-8.5) vs No. 11 Tennessee, 58.5 | 7:30 pm | ABC
No. 7 Texas Tech (-9.5) at Arizona State, 51.5 | 4 pm | FOX
No. 8 Oregon (-17) at Rutgers, 60.5 | 6:30 pm | FOX
No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt (-2.5), 48.5 | 12 pm | ABC
No. 12 Georgia Tech at Duke (-1.5), 61 | 12 pm | ESPN
No. 13 Notre Dame (-9) vs No. 20 USC, 62 | 7:30 pm | NBC 
No. 14 Oklahoma (-5) at South Carolina, 43 | 12:45 pm | SEC Network 
No. 15 BYU vs. No. 23 Utah (-3.5), 49 | 8 pm | FOX
No. 16 Missouri (-2) at Auburn, 43.5 | 7:45 pm | ESPN
No. 18 Virginia (-17) vs Washington State 56.5 | 6:30 pm | CW Network
No. 19 South Florida (-21.5) vs Florida Atlantic, 72.5 | 7:30 pm | ESPN2
No. 21 Texas (-12.5) at Kentucky, 42.5 |  pm | ESPN  
No. 22 Memphis (-21.5) at UAB, 64 | 4 pm, ESPN2
No. 24 Cincinnati (-21.5) at Oklahoma State, 58 | 7:30 pm Friday | ESPN2
No. 25 Nebraska (-7.5) at Minnesota, 46.5 | 8 pm | FOX 

Ohio State received 50 first place votes this week, Miami 13 and Indiana 3 with the Hoosiers achieving their highest-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 poll. 

Others receiving votes: Illinois, Michigan, Washington, UNLV, Navy, Mississippi State, Tulane, San Diego State. 

Other notable games on Sat., Oct. 18 

- Washington at Michigan (-6), 50.5 - FOX
- Arizona at Houston (-pk), 46 - FS1
- Baylor at TCU (-3), 66.5 - ESPN2
- SMU at Clemson (-9.5), 55 - ACCN
- Penn State at Iowa (-3), 39 - Peacock
- UNLV at Boise State (-12), 62.5 - FS1
- Mississippi State at Florida (-9.5), 52 - SECN
- Pittsburgh (-11) at Syracuse, 54.5 - ACCN
- Army at Tulane (-9.5), 45 - ESPNU
- Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State (-11), 49.5 - ESPN+ 

The next two weeks feature the two biggest sporting events in the state of Utah. The Utah at BYU game is also homecoming in Provo. The game is annually the biggest event in the state of Utah, and the Cougars have won the last two contests after losing 9-straight to the Utes. The following week is the 2nd annual Bank of Utah Championship - a PGA Tour event at Black Desert Resort.  

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NCAA Football Week 8 Top 25 Picks

Check back by Friday each week as we add more Picks and Opinions with select analysis, stats and any upgrades to support information you can bet on. 

LSU at Vanderbilt - LSU has won 10 straight games against Vanderbilt, and held the 'Dores to less than 20 points in 9 of last 10 meetings including last year's 24-17 home win. But Vanderbilt (5-1) is now a rare favorite and legit for second-straight season with the SEC's No. 2 scoring offense averaging 42.8 points per game - top 5 in the country. 

Ole Miss at Georgia - College GameDay will be in Athens for the lone top 10 matchup in Week 8 with Ole Miss (6-0) at Georgia (5-1). The coaching matchup features two of the best in college football and Georgia HC Kirby Smart and Mississippi HC Lane Kiffin were also defensive and offensive coordinators together on the 2014 and 2015 Alabama teams under then HC Nick Saban. Ole Miss and coach Kiffin knocked off No. 2 Georgia last season 28-10 holding the Bulldogs to a season-low 245 yards offense including just 59 rushing on 33 attempts. This season Georgia does feature a balanced offense averaging 185 yards rushing and 229 passing. But QB Gunnar Stockton ranks No. 99 in big time throw rate, 77th in passing grade on 10+ yard throws. The conservative approach also includes the second most screen passes in the country and 149th QB in average depth of yards. The Bulldogs have fortunate wins at Tennessee and Auburn, and were out-played at home in a 24-21 loss to Alabama. The Bulldogs have struggled to defend the pass, but rank No. 3 in run defense grade (PFF). Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss ranks No. 25 in passing grade since taking over against Arkansas. However, he comes off a season-low passing grade in a narrow 24-21 win over Washington State as a 33-point favorite. A clear lookahead this week to Georgia, but the Ferris State transfer QB Chambliss and the Rebels OL vs. Bulldogs defense face their toughest test on the road in Athens followed by next week's game at Oklahoma. Opinion: Under and Lean Ole Miss  

Tennessee at Alabama - After losing opening week as a big favorite at Florida State, Alabama (5-1) shoots for their fourth-straight win over a top 20 team against Tennessee (5-1). Major SEC and College Football Playoff implications with both quarterbacks Ty Simpson and senior Joey Aguilar playing terrific. Aguilar is No. 6 in the country in clean pocket passing grade (PFF), 7 big time throws and zero turnover worthy plays. The Crimson Tide's weakness is pass rushing, ranking 114th and the Volunteers have a top 10 pass blocking grade. Simpson is No. 3 in clean pocket passing grade with 15 TD passes and 1 INT from a clean pocket and the 'Tide OL is No. 26 with team pass blocking ranking. But Tennessee has four different defensive lineman with at least four sacks, and rank top-10 in CFB pass rush grade. The 'Tide had their lowest pass blocking grade of the season last week vs. Missouri, who has the No. 6 pass rush grade in college football. The Volunteers could get the victory as a TD+ 'Dog with an elite offense averaging 201 rushing yards per game, 290 passing ypg and 43 points per game (No. 3 in country) to make it tough on the 'Tide. Pick: Tennessee  

USC at Notre Dame - The Trojans 552 yards per game offense ranks No. 1 in the country and the winning profile is complete with a balanced offensive attack, averaging 227 rushing and 323 passing yards per game with the No. 1 scoring offense averaging 45.5 points per game. Trojans QB Jayden Maiava leads the nation in QB Rating while passing for 1,852 yards and 13 touchdowns. Notre Dame ranks No. 7 in scoring offense averaging 40 points per game with 175 rushing and 293 passing led by CJ Carr, No. 11 in the country in QBR with 1,622 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. The Irish are 3rd in the nation in receiving grade, 2nd in explosive pass rate, top 5 in yards per catch and yards per route run (PFF). The Trojans defense is sub-par and ranks 126th in PFF grade since Week 4 and 107th in run defense with a poor 51.3 coverage grade with weakness at cornerbacks facing Michigan State, Illinois and Michigan. See the 34-32 loss at Illinois with the Trojans building a lead and unable to hold it with both teams producing nearly 500 yards offense. Notre Dame ranks No. 125 in defensive slot coverage, and USC features an elite slot WR in Makai Lemon. Another shootout in South Bend seems likely, but check the weather with early forecast showing a 60% chance of rain and wind speeds 10-20 mph. Opinions: USC and Over.

Utah at BYU - The 103rd edition of the 'Holy War'. 

Washington at Michigan - for the second straight week, we go against Michigan (4-2), who is 0-2 when not rushing for at least 175 yards and faces a Huskies run defense that is allowing just 85 rushing yards per game - top 10 in the country. Washington (5-1) quietly in the Big Ten chase with only loss to No. 1 Ohio State holding the Buckeyes to 357 total yards and 149 rushing on 34 attempts. Last week's 38-19 route of Rutgers building momentum with 579 yards offense including 402 passing from QB Williams, who also rushed for 136 yards. A win is clearly possible and would move Washington into the Top 25. Shop top online sportsbooks and bet best number with +6 available. Pick: Washington and Opinion Under.

Misleading stats and turnovers impact results and point spreads each week, and we suffered another undeserved loss last Saturday in the Big Ten. Ohio State (-16) managed to cover the spread at Illinois in a 34-16 win despite getting out-gained by the Illini 295-272. That's what a minus (-3) turnover differential will do for the losing team, and teams -3 or greater have failed ATS at 85% this season on nearly 50 games with those TO stats, and 89% ATS the past six seasons and historically. TCU (-2) suffered the same fate of minus (-3) in the turnover column and lost 41-28 at Kansas State despite more than 100 yards edge (448 at 6.5 yppl to 343/4.8). An improved Purdue team suffered a tough loss at Minnesota in a 27-20 defeat despite the Boilermakers balanced offense both rushing and passing for 200+ yards (a winning profile) and outgaining the Gophers 456-267 on 82-63 total plays edge. The Boilers (+9) actually covered the spread despite four turnovers and a minus (-3) TO differential. That's how much they out-played the favored Gophers. Those misleadings scores and stats with impact turnovers can direct you to hidden opportunities and value each week. Could that be this Saturday with Purdue (+3) at Northwestern, who is off the emotional and enormous high of road victory as 20+ point 'Dog at Penn State?  

More select game analysis, picks and opinions including non-top 25 games like last week's winners Air Force (+7) at UNLV plus game total winner in the undefeated Rebels 51-48 shootout win in Las Vegas. More big watch and wager college football action with added value betting at reduced juice sportsbooks. 

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.